ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study was to assess adherence to anti-hypertensive medication and contributing factors among non-comorbid hypertensive patients in two hospitals of Jimma town, South West Ethiopia.

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted using structured standard questionnaire (morisky green test) after slight modification.

A total of 120 non-co morbid hypertensive patients were interviewed at chronic follow up clinic of two hospitals in Jimma town during the study period with the response rate of 100%. The mean age of the respondents was 53.85 ±12.00 years and 60% of participant were found to be adherent to their medication. Adherence was found to be significantly associated with marital status, age, sex, educational level, and perceived severity of hypertension, condition at Health institution and health professionals. The study participants pointed out forgetfulness (39.58%), feeling better (22.92%), cost of medications (14.58%), being busy and forgot to take pills (12.5%) as the main reason for non-adherence. The respondents also raised financial problem, kidney problem, visual problem, death and stroke and heart problem as the major consequence of non adherence.

Generally magnitude of medication adherence at the study site is very low. Attention should be paid on creating awareness about the impact of nonadherence on health and promoting appropriate medicine usage habit to earn desirable outcome.

Keywords: Hypertension, Non-Comorbid Hypertension, Adherence, Non-Adherence, Medication Refill